Rotary engine



Dec. 28, 192 1,612,559

' E. ANDERSON u ROTARY ENGINE Original Filed Sept. 26, 1918 2Shets-$heet 1 A; 61mm; 4 W 49% Dec. 28 1926. 1,612,559

- E. ANDERSON I ROTARY ENGINE Original Filed Sept. 26 1918 mill/l; ,3 9?3536 33 335 g 2 Sheets-Sheet g Patented Dec. 28, 131 .6

ensse UNETE STATES PATENT ()FF -ICE.

EMIL ANDERSON, OF NEVI YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR 1:0 UNIVERSAL TURBINE COM-PANY, OF NEVTABK, NEVJ JERSEY, A CORPORATIGN' OF NEV JERSEY.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Application filed September 2-6, 1918, Serial No. 255,767 Renewed May25, 1 926.

This invention relates to improvements in rotary engines of the turbinetype. Its object is to improve upon the construction of engines of thistype, and to provide an arrangement of great simplicity and strength.

Another object is to increase the efiiciency of this kind of engine.

In orderthat my invention may be thoroughly understood, 1 will nowproceed to describe the same in the following specification, and willthen point out the novel features thereof in appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is an end elevation, partly in section, of an engine which ismade according to and embodies the present invention.

lfigure 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same apparatus.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of a part of the intermediate sector, withsome of the parts removed,

Figure @l is a perspective view of one of the deflector blades of thisintermediate sector.

Figure 5 is a partial section in side elevation of the intermediatesector.

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view ot the same part, the section beingtaken on the line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a portion of a partially constructedrotor.

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of a part of the steam passages.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

10, 11 and 12 designate three semi-circular parts which are bolted as at13 to form the lower part of a casingj The parts 10 and 12 areconstructed to form feet 14: which are adapted to rest upon a suitablefoundation.

is the rotor shaft suitably supported in bearings 15 and 16 secured tothe casing parts 10 and 12 respectively by. bolts 17, and i8 is anintermediate bearing for this shaft HillKGtl lo the casing part 11.

The upper part of the casing designated by 20 has three flat walls 21.22 and 23 which are in the same planes as similar parts of the lowercasing members, and lit over the bearin s i 18 and 1G. The bearings 15and 16 to the $21 and 23 by bolts 19. -r tower casing merry hers l0 and12 and the lower edges of the valls 21 and 23 form out-turned flangeswhich are fastened together by bolts 24L.

Atlixed to the rotor shaft is ahub 31 to which is fastened a plate 32..33 is a ring on the plate 32 and 34: is a similar ring spaced from ring33. The surfaces of the rings are beveled to converge out-- wardly andbetween them are the wavy blades a0. These parts are fastened togetherby rivets 37 The ring 33 overlaps the periphery of plate 32 and theperipheries of bothof the rings 33 and 34 are provided with spacedprojecting ribs 38.

is another ring on the plate 32 opposite which is a-ring 51. Thesurfaces 52 and of these rings are beveled to converge outwardly;Between these two rings are the rotor blades 41. These parts are heldtogether by rivets 54. The ring abuts against the ring or may beintegral with it but between the inner periphery of the ring 34: and theouter periphery of ring 51 isan annular space 55.

is an intermediate sector which has a base 71 aflixed to the lowercasing part 12 by bolts 72. In the face of this sector opposite its baseis cut a series of equally spaced tapered grooves 73. 74 is sectorplate. the inner face of which is provided with similar grooves.

The deflectors comprise tapered flat surtaced plates 75 which are widerthan the distance of the deflector plate from the sector and the edgesof which fit into these grooves, and curved body portions 76 which fitbe tween the sector plate and the sector. Each of these lies against oneof the surfaces of one of the plates 75 and has a shoulder which fitsagainst the end of one of the plates Screws 77 pass through the sectorplate and the deflector bodies into the sector 70. By this simpleconstruction the'parts are held together securely and against allpossible displacement. These intermediate sectors project through thespace and between the rotor blades 40 and ll. The casing part if) isconstructed to form a steam chest 80 which hasaflanged intake port 81and a plurality of valve controlled ports One of the v Y "which controlthese ports is shown, and

' bylthe number 3 3;

ill)

Directly back of the steam chest is a nozzle member S t allixed to thecasing member l2 by screws 85. This member is divided by walls 86 into aplurality of chambers corre ponding in number with tl 3 ports 82 andeach in communication with the steam chest through one t these portswhen its respective valve 83 is open. The inner outside surtace ot thenozzle member fits the outer periphery of the rotor and is provided withgrooves 87 to receive the ribs 38. The nozzle member las a slot St? inalignment with the space between the rings 32 and 34 and oi the samewidth as that ol this space and this slot is divided by blades F59 intonozzles o't desired shape, preferably so ari'iilljl'cal that there arean equal number ol nozzles for each chamber.

in the wall of the casing); member 11 an opening; 90 hack of which is anozzle member 9!. similar to the member fill except that it notsulidirided by walls such 86. it it it has such walls there is anopening like 9i) leading into each chamber. 92 is a slot if leading;into a second rotor 93 which similar in construction to the one whichhas been described so that the description need not be repeated. Its tworows of blades are designated respectively 410 and 4-1 and between themis interposed an int-rmediate sector 95 i an exhaust port formed in thecas ng member and 96 is a relief valve in this same casing; member.

I will now describe the operation of this apparatus. A suitable fluidunderpressure, such as steam. is introduced through intake 81 into oneor n ore of the chambers of the nozzle member 8% by opening one or moreof the valves 83. This steam is led through the slot 88 into the firstrotor. The blades 85) direct this steam so that it enters at slightangles to tangential lines. They may be also constructed as shown. tohave a larger nozzle area at the parts adjacent the rotor than outsidethese parts to permit the steam to erqiand and increase its velocity.

"he rotor blades ll) are so constructed that tortuous or wavy passagesare formed between them. As the steam enters these passages it is firstdeflected inwardly by the parts 42 of the blades 4-0. In doing this arotalive impulse is imparted to the rotor. Then it is deflected by theparts 43 into a tangential direction against the parts a l which deflectit inwardly again and thereby 'et a further rotative effect upon therotor. the parts -15 then direct the steam against the parts 46 where afurther impulse is receivcd. These parts 16 are nearly 180 curves sothat the steam is discharged from the annular row ot blades in nearlytanggential directions opposite to the direction of rotation. This givesa reaction which further impels the rotor. It is to be noted that thereactions against the parts a3 and A x I are in radial directions sothat they have no tendency to retard the rotation of the rotor.

The steam is now deflected by the blades 'T57:3 to enter the wavypassages between the second row of rotor blades ll in the direction ofrotation. These blades have parts .457 which deflect the steam inwardly41:8 which deflect it back in the direction oi" rotati-on. and parts 4-9which turn it back and discharge it in directions opposite that ofrotation. At the parts t?" and 4-9 further driving impulses are receivedand the reaction ot discharge is also in the driving directions. Thereactions at the parts l8 are in radial directions.

The spaces between the rotor blades 40 and it are of uniform width inone plane and expand in the normal plane on account oi the bevel 01' thering surfaces 36 and 53 so that the steam passages are not 1: stric'cr.but in fact the steam expands d uing; ts passage through the rotor.There. is therefore no drop in steam pressure but its velocity istranstorn'ied into useful work.

The steam discharged from the rotor enters the casing between its parts11 and 12 and the walls 22 and 23. It then passes through the openinginto nozzle member 9i and through the nozzles formed in slot 92 into therotor 93 where its velociti is further transformed into work in thepassages between the blades 40 It is deflected by blades in theintermediate sector 9% and further transformed into work in the spacesbetween the rotor blades 41 From these spaces it is discharged into thecasing); between its parts 10 and 11 and the walls 21 and 22 from whenceit is led off through the outlet which is open to the atmosphere orconnected wi h a condenser.

Que of the advantages of this apparatus is that it has a strong startingtorque and that its eliiciency is high at low speeds and tin-(nigh along: range of speeds.

The arrangement shown although of simple and rigid construction, isparticularly ellicient in action. The rotor blades may be rolled intothe desired shapes and cut transversely into desired widths. T hebeveled sides of the rings between which the rotor blades are heldprevent them from being; displaced even if they b-come discennected orbroken.

The construction of the intermediate sectors and the 'ay in which theirdeflector blades are held therein, is also decidedly strong althoughvery simple.

It is obvious that the amount of power developed may be controlled bymeans of the valves 83. The safety valve 95 oi coarse prevents an unduerise of pressure within the casing".

It is also obvious that other nozzle structures like 84L, 91 withsuitable intake a l exhaust passages, may be added to the upper lit)part of the casing if it is desired to increase the power withoutmaterially increasing the size of the turbine.

Jr device of preferred term and construction has beenlllLlStl'fttOtlllltl described for the purpose of "showing ways in whichthis invention may be used, but the inventive thought upon which thisapplication is based, is broader than these illustrative embodimentsthereof, and I therefore intend no limitations other than those imposedby the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A turbine comprising an annular rotor, a nozzle inclined toward aperiphery thereof, a plurality of spaced annular ro vs of blades on therotor, and an intermediate sector having stationary deflectors betweenadjacent rows of rotor blades, the rotor blades in the row adjacent thenozzle having a wavy formation to provide passages extending alternatelyin substantially tangential directibns and in directions deflected fromsaid tangential directions toward'the axis of the rotor.

A turbine comprising an annular rotor, a nozzle inclined toward aperiphery thereof, a plurality of spaced annular rows of blades on therotor, andan intermedi'ate sector hav-' ii stationary deflectors betweenad'jac'ent rows of rotor blades, the rotor blades in the rowadjacent the nozzle having wavy formation to provide passagesextendingalternately in substantially tangential directions and indirections deflected from said tangential directions towardthe axis ofthe rotor, the last part of saidpassages on the outlet end being adaptedto discharge firearwardly against said'stationary deflectors;

3. A turbine coinprisingan annular rotor,

a nozzle inclined toward a periphery thereof, a plurality of spacedannular rows of spirally curved blades on the rotor, and an intermediatesector having stationary dcitlectors between adjacent rows of rotorblades, the rotor blades in the row adjacent the nozzle having a wavyformation to provide t nding alternately in substantiallytangentialdirections and in directitms deflected from said tangentialdirections toward the axis ofthe rotor, the last part of said passageson the outlet 7 end" being adapted to "discharge rearwardly against s dstationary deflectors.

A turbine comprising a rotor,a nozzle inclined toward the outerperiphery thereof,

said rotor havinga plurality of'pairs of spaced annular members, rows otblades between eaclrpair of said members, and'an intermediate sectorhaving stationary deflectors between adjacent rows of rotor blades, theadjacent surfaces of the'oute'r pair of members being beveledtoconverge' outwardly, the rotor blades betweensaid inclined towardthe/outer peripheriythera outer pair otmembers having a wavy formationto provide passages extending alternately in substantially tangentialdirections to converge outwardly, and the rotor blades between sa d.outer pair of members having a. wavy formation to provide'passagesextending alternately in substantlally tangential directions and indirections deflected from said tangential directions toward the axisoflthe rot-or.

6. A turbine comprising an annular rotor, a nozzleinclined toward aperiphery thereof, a plurality of spaced annular rowsor blades on. therotor, and an intermediate sector having stationary deflectors betweenadjacent rows of rotor-blades, the rotor blades in the row adjacent thenozzle having a wavy formation to provide passages extending alternatelyin substantially tangential directions and in directions deflected fromsaid tangential directions. toward the axis of the rotor, the last partof said passages on the outlet endbeing adapted to discharge rearwardlyagainst said stationary deflectors, said passages being of uniform widthin one transversedirection and liaringin the opp0 site transversedirection, i

T. A turbine comprising a rotor, a nozzle inclined toward a peripherythereof, said rotor having an outer and an inner pair ofspaced annularmembers, rows of blades between each pair of members, and anintermediate sector having stationary deflectors between the rows ofrotor blades, said rotor blades having a wavy formation to providepassages extending alternately in substantially tangential directionsand in directions deflected fronrsaid tangential directions toward theaxis of the rotor.

8. A turbine comprising a rotor, a nozzle inclined toward a peripherythereof, said rotor having an outer and an inner pair of spaced annularmembers, rows of curved blades between each pair of members, and anintermediate sector having stationary defleco. A' turbine comprising arotor, a nozzle tors between the rows of rotor blades, said rotor bladeshaving a wavy formation to proylde passages extending alternately insubstantially tangential directions and in directions deflected fromsaid tangential directionstoward the axisof the rotor,..the last part ofsaid passages on the outlet end being aoapted to discharge rearwardly.

9. A turbinec'omprising a rotor,:a nozzle of having an outer and. aninner pair of spaced annular members, rows of blades be t veen each pairof members, and an intermediate sector having stationary deflectorsbetween the rows of rotor blades, the inner adjacent surfaces of saidmembers being beveled to converge outwardly, said rotor blades having awavy formation to provide passages extending alternately insubstantially tangential directions and in directions deflected fromsaid tangential directions toward the axis of the rotor, the passagesbetween the rotor blades in each row being of uniform width in onetransverse direction and. flaring in the opposite transverse direction.

10. A turbine comprisiin an annular rotor, a nozzle member constructedto form. a plurality of chambers, nozzles from each chamber inclinedtoward a periphery of the rotor, a steam chest, and valvecontrolledports between the steam chest and each of said chambers, a plurality ofspaced annular rows of blades on the rotor and an intermediate sectorhaving stationary deflectors between adjacent rows of rotor blades, therotor blades in the row adjacent the nozzle having a wavy formation toprovide passages extending alternately in substantially tangentialdirections and in directions deflected from said tangential directionstoward the axis of the rotor.

11. A turbine comprising a shaft and casing, said casing having astationary transverse wall, an annular rotor on said I shaft on one sideof the wall, a nozzle inclined toward a periphery thereof, a motivefluid connection for said nozzle, another rotor on said shaft on theother side of the transverse wall, a second nozzle inclined toward aperiphery of said other rotor, and a port through said wall connectingthe side of the casing opposite said second nozzle with the secondnozzle.

12. A turbine comprising a shaft and a casing, said casing having atransverse .wall, an annular rotor on said shaft on one side of thewall, a nozzle inclined toward a periphery thereof, a motive fluidconnection for said nozzle, another rotor on said shaft on the otherside of the transverse wall, a second nozzle inclined toward. aperiphery of said other rotor, and a port through said wall connectingthe side of the casing opposite said second nozzle with the secondnozzle, both of-said'rotors having a plurality of spaced annular rows ofblades, and an intermediate sector having stationary deflectors betweeneach adjacent rows of rotor blades, the rotor blades in the row adjacentthe nozzle having a wavy formation to provide passages extendingalternately in sub tantially tangential directions and. insdirectionsdeflected from said tan- --gent1al directions toward the axis of theretor, the last part of said passages on the outlet end being adapted todischarge rearwardly against said stationary deflectors.

A turbine comprising a shaft and a casing, said casing having atransverse wall, an annular rotor on said shaft on one side of the wall,a nozzle inclined toward a periphery thereof, a motive fluid connectionfor said nozzle, another rotor on said shaft on the other side of thetransverse wall, a second nozzle inclined toward a periphery of saidother rotor, and a port through said wall connecting the side of thecasing opposite said second nozzle with the second nozzle, both of saidrotors having a plurality of pairs of spaced annular members, rows ofblades between each pair of said members, and an intermediate sectorhaving stationary deflectors between each adjacent rows'of rotor blades,the adjacent surfaces of the outer pair of members being beveled toconverge outwardly, and the retor blades between said outer pair of meanbers having a wavy formation to provide passages extending alternatelyin substantially tangential directions and in directions deflected fromsaid tangential directions toward the axis of the rotor.

14. A turbine comprising a shaft and a casing, said casing having atransverse wall, an annular rotor on said shaft on one side of the wall,a nozzle inclined toward a periphery thereof, a motive fluid connectionfor said nozzle another rotor on said shaft on the other side of thetransverse wall, a second nozzle inclined toward a periphery of saidother rotor, and a port through said wall. connecting the side ofthevcasing opposite said second nozzle with the second nozzle, both ofsaid rotors having an outer and an inner pair of spaced annular members,rows of blades between each pair of members, and an intermediate sectorhaving stationary deflectors between each adjacent row of rotor blades,the inner adjacent surfaces of said members being beveled to convergeoutwardly, said rotor blades having a wavy formation to provide passagesextending alternately in substantially tangential directions and indirections deflected from said tangential directions toward the axis ofthe rotor, the passages between the rotor blades in each row being ofuniform width in one transverse direction and tlaring in the oppositetransverse direction.

15. A turbine comprising a shaft, a plate extending therefrom, anannular ring on the sidei of. said plate, another annular ring spacedtherefrom, the adjacent surfaces of said rings being beveled to convergeoutwardly, a plurality of spirally curved blades between said, rings andacross adjacent sur-' faces thereof, said, blades having a wavyformation to provide passages extending al ternately in tangentialdirictiens andin rections deflected from said tangential directionstoward the axis of the rotor, and rivets passing through said plate,rings and blades.

16. A turbine comprising an annular rotor, a nozzle inclined toward aperiphery thereof, a plurality of spaced annular rows of blades on therotor, and an intermediate sector having stationary deflectors betweenadjacent rows of rotor blades,said seem having a pair of spaced membersconstructed to form tapered inclined slots and said deflectorscomprising plates fitting said slots, and body portions fitted betweenthe spaced members and each lying against one side and the inner end ofone of the plates and fastening devices between said members passingthrough said body portions.

17. A fluid pressure turbine wheel having a plurality of blades with aplurality of transverse notches on the working face of each blade, saidblades extending inwardly from the periphery of the wheel and having thecomplementary notches on both sides of said blades adapted to deflectthe motive fluid in a continuous flow and in every turn exert atangential or forward driving action on said wheel.

18. A turbine rotor comprising a shaft, a hub having an annularprojection, a pair of spaced discs on opposite sides of the annularprojection and having their outer portions shaped to converge toward theperiphery of the rotor, and a pluralityof interposed spirally curvedspacing vanes tapered to fit between the converging portions of thediscs and fashioned to provide wavy passages from the rotor peripheryinwardlly.

19. A turbine rotor comprising a pair of spaced discs having their outerportions shaped to converge toward the periphery of the rotor, and aplurality of interposed spirally curved spacing vanes tapered to fitbetween the converging portions of the discs and fashioned to providewavy passages from the rotor periphery inwardly.

20. A turbine rotor comprising apair of annular members convergingtoward the periphery of the rotor and interposed spirally curved spacingvanes tapered to fit between the converging members and fashioned toprovide wavy passages from the rotor periphery inwardly.

21. A turbine rotor comprising a shaft, a hub having an annularprojection, a pair of spaced discs on opposite sides of the an nularprojection and having their outer portions shaped to converge toward theperiphery of the rotor, and a plurality of interposed spirally curvedspacing vanes fashioned to form wavy passages'froni the rotary peripheryinwardly.

22. A turbine rotor comprising a pair of spaced discs having their outerportions shaped to converge toward the periphery of 24:. A turbine rotorcomprising a pair of. annular members CODVG-IgHIg near the periphery ofthe rotor and interposed spirally curved spacing vanes fashioned toprovide wavy passages.

25. A turbine rotor comprising spaced annular members and interposedspirally curved spacing vanes fashioned to provide wavy passages havingreverse bends at their ends.

26. A turbine rotor comprising a shaft,

a hub having an annular projection, a pair of spaced discs on oppositesides of the annular projection and having their outer portions bent toconverge and interposed spirally curved spacing vanes between saidconverging portions of said discs having a wavy formation to providepassages extending alternately in tangential directions and indirections deflected from said tangential directions toward the axis ofthe rotor.

27. A turbine rotor comprising a pair of spaced discs having their rimportions shaped to converge toward the periphery of the rotor, andinterposed spirally curved spacing vanes having a wavy formation toprovide passages extending alternately in tangential directions.

28. A turbine rotor comprising a shaft, a hub having an annularprojection, a pair of spaced discs on opposite sides of the annularprojection and a plurality of interposed spirally curved spacing vaneshaving hooked inner ends and fashioned to form wavy passages from therotary periphery inward, ending with reverse bends.

29. A turbine rotor comprising a pair of spaced members and a pluralityof interposed spirally curved spacing blades fashioned to provide .wavypassages from the rotor periphery inward, terminating in substantially180 degree bends.

30. A turbine rotor comprising a shaft, a hub having, an annularprojection, a pair of spaced discs on opposite sides of the annularprojection and a plurality of interposed spacing vanes arranged toprovide passages of uniform width in one transverse direction andflaring in the other transverse direction.

31. A turbine rotor comprising a pair of circular members, means forpassing motive fluid between said members obliquely, curved spacingblades interposed between said members and across the adjacent surfacesthereof, the curved sides of said blades being Wavy to form zigzagpassages for the motive fluid, and the Waves of each blade overlappingthose of the adjacent blades and the last of the Waves on the outlet endof each blade being adapted to discharge the motive fluid rearvvardly.

32. In a turbine engine, the combination With a rotor comprising ashaft, a hub having an annular projection, a pair of spaced discs onopposite sides of the annular projection and a plurality of interposedspacing vanes having hooked inner ends and fashioned to form spirallycurved wavy passages from the rotor periphery inwardly, ending withreverse bends, of a stator comprising a casing having an exhaust portand a peripheral inlet nozzle having expanding passages arranged todischarge into the outer ends of said curved Wavy passages of the rotor.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18 day of Sept,1918.

EMIL ANDERSON.

